Torpedo-launching apparatus.



G.G.DAVISON.

TORPEDO LAUNGHING APPARATUS. APPLICATION IILBD APR. 28,1911.

1,122, 99] v Patented Dec.29,19;14;

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR I BY I ATTORNEYS G. G. DAVISON. TORPEDO LAUNOHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR ZB, 1911.

Patented D60. 29, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

filllrllfllt WITNESSES G. G- DAVISON.

TORPBDO LAUNCHING APPARATUS. APPLIOATION FiLED APB.28,1911.

- 22 99 Patented m 29, 19m.

3 sums-SHEET a.

N- INVENTOR ff m 5.5

UNITED STAS PATENT GREGORY. C. DAVISON, 0F QUINCY, MASSACHUSETTS.

TORPEDO-LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. P t t 29, 14,

Application filed April as, 1911. Serial No. 623,980.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GREGORY G. Davison, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy, county of Norfolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Torpedo Launching Apparatus; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip tion oft-he invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention particularly relates to torpedo tubes designed to project torpedoes under water from a vessel in motion, and in directions other than that in which the vessel is proceeding, with the object in view of providing adequate apparatus whereby a torpedo may be accurately launched upon a definite course from a point upon a moving vessel below the surface of the water and in a direction other than that in which the vessel is proceeding.

The conditions arising from the use of torpedoes in connection with war vessels of practically all types render it extremely desirable to direct torpedoes under water broadside, and .in various directions other than that in which the vessel is proceeding.

while the vessel is in motion and this is especially true in the'case of submersible torpedo boats.

Heretofore it has been impossible to launch a torpedo under water from a tube on a moving vessel in a direction not parallel to the course of the vessel without the aid of projecting devices to assist in freeing it from the mouth of the tube, because the resistance of the water on the side of the torpedo caused the torpedo to bind inthe mouth of the tube as soon as it protruded therefrom.

This invention contemplates mounting the tube in a manner that permits the torpedo when it tends to deflect, owing to this resistance of the water, to deflect the tube in a like manner, thereby relieving the binding action between the torpedo and the tube and insuring the smooth issuance of the torpedo from the tube without damage. This deflection of the tube during the issuance of the torpedo, however, would destroy the aim were the usual practice adhered to, as the gyroscope controlling the steering gear, which is now universally used in automobile torpedoes, is set in motion simultaneously with the firing of the tube. the gimbal ring of the gyroscope being released as the terpedo is leaving the tube.

One method of firing a torpedo from this apparatus comprehends the employment of a gyroscopically controlled torpedo provided with means for first energizing the gyroscope and then releasing its gimbal ring before the discharge of the torpedo from the tube, and this method involves on the one hand the fixture of the imbal ring of the gyroscope within, and in xed relation to the axis of, the torpedo in which case the tube is trained upon the mark and the gimbal ring then released; or, on the other hand the training of the gimbal ring or the valve controlled thereby on the mark followed by the release of the gimbal ring without regard to the position of the tube, which would involve some connection from the outside of the tube to the gimbal ring or valve in the torpedo lying in the tube, which connection would be disconnected just prior to release. In this case the tube would not be trained but would be moved by the issuing torpedo. lnany case, the mechanism employed for the purpose constitutes what I term a course attaining and maintaining steering control. Either of these methods of training the steering control of the torpedo may beemployed with this apparatus, it being necessary, however, that the gyroscope be energized and the gimbal ring of the gyroscope in the torpedo be released after training and before the torpedo protrudes from the mouth of the tube during its expulsion therefrom.

I have illustratcd'in the accompanying drawings an embodiment of this invention in connection with a submersible vessel of the type generally known as submersible torpedo boats and in Figure 1, thereof, have presented a plan view of twin tubes swiveled upon the superstructure of such a vessel, in Fig. 2, an elevation of the same showing the superstructure and hull in section exposing the operating mechanism within the boat,- in Fig. 3, a section in elevation on line 33 of Fig. 2; and in Figs. 4-, 5 and 6, similar views respectively to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but of modifiedconstruction in which the tubes are mount d within instead of above the superstruc with intent to avoid extra head resistance to the water during submerged running. In Fig. 7, a detailed elevation in section of the mounting is shown, which for the purposes of description is alike applicable to both of the above illustrated arrangements, and Fig. 8 represents a diagrammatic section of a pneumatic system designed to produce the required cycle of operation for the launch of a torpedo from the tubes shown. The tubes shown while mounted in the manner peculiar to this invention for submerged operation are however perfectly adapted for operation as deck tubes when the vessel is maneuvering upon the surface.

The reference characters denote like parts in both of the forms shown throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, and particu larly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, A represents the hull proper of a submersible vessel and B, the superstructure built thereon. Two like torpedo tubes C, C, are mounted in a horizontal plane and parallel with one another upon a turntable D which is provided with rollers d supporting it upon a circular track a on the hull A. The tubes C are placed upon opposite sides of, and with their longitudinal centers opposite, the axis of the turntable D in such manner thatwhen submerged they will present an approximately equal surface upon each side of the axis of turn-table D, to the water while the vessel is in motion, and have little or no tendency to he turned thereby from any angle they may have been caused to assume and this I term resistant equilibrium. A trunk pivot E depends from and forms a part of the turntable D and this trunk pivot E extends downwardly through a water-tight bearing 6 to the interior of the hull-A where it is surrounded by and is rotatable in a housing F suitably supplied with stuffing boxes and from which it receives a supply of compressed air, while in any position, through an annular port In actual prac tice it is contemplated that this housing F may serve as the means of conveying to the trunk pivot a number of separate air supplies for operating or controlling various devices upon the turntable used in connection with the launching of the torpedoes, and especially may this be so when a distant pneumatic control is used instead of hand control directly upon the trunk pivot within the hull, but to avoid confusion and a complication of details in the drawings the following simple arrangement of control in the light of these explanatory remarks is deemed suflicient.

Compressed air is supplied from any suitable source through pipe G to housing F and through the annular port 7' is led tothe balanced valve H, in the trunk pivot, each of which valves is connected by a pipe h with the rear end of one of the torpedo tubes C. The valves H, H (see Fig. 8) are actuated by the admission of air to their lower end surfaces through pipes leading from ports in latch releasing cylinders I,

which ports are uncovered by the pistons a working in said cylinders after they have effected the release of the torpedoes as hereinafter described. Fach of the pistons 2' by its upward movement and before admitting the air which actuates it to the end of a valve H, withdraws a latch J mounted in one of the torpedo tubes to normallyhold the torpedo in place; freeing :the torpedo for launching when the valve H is opened and air is admitted to the tube. A cylinder K is provided upon each of the tubes C, the spring returned piston is of which is adapted to strike and actuate a plug L in the torpedo lying in the tube This plug L-controls the air supply within the torpedo which gives the initial'spin tothe gyroscope and causes the release 'of its gimbal-ring when speed is attained. Firing valves shown in this case as hand valves M are first operated to admit air taken from the housing F to cylinders K to start the gyroscopes in the torpedoes and cause the release of their gimbal-rings while the tube is accurately trained on the mark, and are then operated to admit air to latch-releasing cylinders I, which after vun'latching the torpedoes open the passages for the air to the ends of valves H, opening them to admit the air to the tubes to eject the torpedoes. A worm gear N surrounds the trunk pivot E and carries friction blocks a which are adjusted to frictionally engage said pivot and turn it to train the tubes when said gear N is turned by a worm O mounted in stationary bearings and provided with a hand wheel 0, but this adjustment is such that the pivot E may move independently within these blocks when the pressure of water on the side ofa protruding torpedo causes an angular movement of the. tubes. A out water cap P is mounted on the superstructure B and is applied to the muzzles of the tubes as a closure when the tubes are not in operation,. and this cap P is connected with a hand wheel p within the hull in such manner that it may be removed from the muzzles of the tubes from within the hull while the boat is'submerged.

The operation is as follows :The torpedoes'having been loaded into the tubes and latched therein, the cap P is applied to the muzzles of the tubes as they lie in a fore and aft position on the superstructure deck..

of a submarine. In this condition the boat may be run submerged and when it is desired to fire a torpedo the eap P is first removed by the actuation of the hand wheel -79 within the hull and the tubes C are then responding to the tube to be fired, is then turned and air is admitted to cylinder K,

leased immediately thereafter, taking the plane of the trained'tube and insuring the course of the torpedo, as deviations from its course thereafter will be corrected automatically. Then the firing valve is turned to admit air to cylinder I and its piston i first withdraws the latch J and then admits air to the end of valve H opening it and admitting the main firing volume of air to the tube C which forces the torpedo out.

As soon as the torpedo protrudes from the muzzle of the tube it is acted upon by the unbalanced resistance of the water and tends to deflect. As the friction blocks n permit the tubes to be turned within the worm gear N, the torpedo deflects the tube through several degrees until it is clear of the muzzle of the tube, when the gyroscope brings it back upon its course and the tubes are returned to their original position by the hand wheel 0.

The above description of construction and operation applies as well to the modification shown in Figs. &, 5 and 6, the object of this form being to mount the tubes beneath the superstructure deck to reduce head resistance and cllow them to be trained through apertures left in the side walls of the superstructure.

It is obvious that various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of the organization shown without departing from the spirit of the invention.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. The combination with a' vessel, of a torpedo launching tube mounted to discharge its torpedo transversely of the direction of movement of the vessel and below the surface of the water, said launching tube being free to move angularly with the torpedo during such discharge and being normally uninfluenced by the movement of the vessel through the water, whereby as the torpedo issues into the water its tendency to bind in the muzzle of the launching tube is met and suppressed by an accompanying angular movement of the tube; substantially as described.

2. The combination of a. torpedo tube mounted for angular movement and in resistent equilibrium and provided with the necessary adjuncts for underwater firing and a yieldable grip engaging said tube, the engagement of said grip being adapted to be overcome and the angular movement of said tube permitted by and with a torpedo issuing from said tube and influenced by the transverse movement of the water relative to the axis of said tube.

3. A torpedo tube mounted for angular movement and a training device engaging with said tube to angularly move the same, said engagement of the training device being adapted to be overcome and the tube angularly moved independently of said training device by an issuing torpedo diverted from its course.

4. A torpedo tube mounted for angular movement and a training device frictionally engaging with said tube to angularly move the same, said frictional engagement being adapted to be overcome and the tube angularly moved independently of said training device by an issuing torpedo diverted from its course.

5. Torpedo launching apparatus co1nprising a support, a torpedo tube mounted for angular movement upon said support, a

trunk'pivot depending from said tube and journaled in said support, and a training device having a yieldable engagement with said trunk pivot to train said tube, which engagement may be overcome by the deflection of said tube by an issuing torpedo diverted from its course.

6. Torpedo launching apparatus comprising a support, a torpedo tube mounted for angular movement upon said support, successively actuated torpedo controlling and projecting means in operative connect tion with said tube, and a training device having a yieldable engagement with said tube to train the same, said engagement being adapted to be overcome by the deflection of said tube by an issuing torpedo diverted from its course.

i In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

GREGORY C. DAVISON.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. DAVIS, MARCUS P. HOPKINS. 

